Hibernation in the wild ?

[Ginger]

I did a quick research but didn't find any answers to my questions...

:confused:

Does african hedgie hibernate in the wild ?
Is it something they does every year ?
If not, why are we calling that process "hibernation" ?

I need some information about it to put into my website.

[HedgieSpirit]

Umm from what I have heard (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) their european cousins do, which is why the african hedgehogs have the ability to but because of the warm climate they don't really hibernate yearly. I know that in captivity our hedgies shouldn't be allowed to hibernate because they have not prepared to do so. Is it the same for wild african hedgies?

[Love4Hedgies]

I have also heard the same thing as Hedgiespirit.

[Ginger]

Seems good to me !

Other opinions ?

[Hedge_girl]

I've heard about the same thing. Hedgehogs in Africa evolved to have a much reduced reaction to temperature extremes than their European cousins which is why they can't hibernate safely. It's probably the same for wild African hedgies since it's due to a biological adaptation. In addition, as I mentioned somewhere else, our African hedgies have a warm-weather response called aestivation (sp?). When they do this, all of their activities diminish. They still eat, drink, hunt for food (play!), etc. just a lot less than usual to conserve resources in the heat. (Like lizards, yes?)

[Ginger]

When you say "which is why they can't hibernate safely", you mean the african hedgehogs, right ?

Thanks !

[Hedge_girl]

*laugh* Yeah, I mean african hedgies.

I just read your whole post and realized there were other questions you asked that didn't quite get answered.
The hibernation response is triggered by either low temperatures or a sudden drop in temperature. This works the same for both African and European hedgies and is a biological response. Since low temperatures usually happen on a yearly cycle, the hibernation happens on a yearly cycle, in the wild. In captivity, however, hibernation will occur whenever either condition is met, regardless of time of year. This isn't a problem for European hedgies, but African hedgies didn't need hibernation in their warm climate so over the course of time their response to low temperatures was weakened. Now they can't sustain a true hibernation even though they have the instinct to try to hibernate when it gets too cold. African hedgehogs evolved something called aestivation (as mentioned) for when their climate got too warm. In the wild, the response is roughly seasonal (summer), and in captivity it occurs whenever the hedgie gets too warm. I don't know if anyone has done a study to see if European hedgies can do the same thing or if they just cook. :eek:

I think I answered all your questions, but I get really detailed so the short answers are:
Does african hedgie hibernate in the wild ? Only if it gets cold in Africa.
Is it something they does every year ? Only if it gets cold in Africa.
If not, why are we calling that process "hibernation" ? Because "hibernation" is a response to temperature and not truely seasonal. (But temperature is generally seasonal, so the hibernation would occur seasonally.)

* Melissa looks around the room and sees everyone :sleep: *

[Ginger]

:) Thanks !

[Hedge_girl]

Another really good point was brought up in another thread just a little while ago....
She's cool again (http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66865)

By that thread, the amount of light a hedgie gets can also affect the amount it sleeps and it's body temperature. I know studies have been done on humans showing a strong relation between the amount of light someone gets, and their sleep patterns (or something like that.) This may be another factor in hibernation. I don't know. :)

I'm glad I could help with your questions! I don't know diddly about diet for hedgies, so I always have to stay quiet for those. :( Other things, I've read quite a bit about and the hibernation/aestivation stuff was interesting to me. I'd been itching to talk about it-like no one could tell. :laugh:

[Ginger]

Thanks a lot Hedge girl !
You helped me a lot and I am sure your post will be appreciated by many hedgies lovers here ! :)